The global biomass community continues to be in search of sustainable and cost-effective sources of biomass materials for producing cellulosic and other advanced biofuels. To that end, scientists from the Carnegie Institution at Stanford University released a report indicating that current abandoned or degraded agricultural lands are a viable option for growing energy crops that could be converted into biofuels.READ MORE

The Energy Research Center of the Netherlands will host an opening ceremony Sept. 4 to celebrate the completion of a new pilot-scale gasification plant. The inauguration will be performed by Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning Jacqueline Cramer. The celebration will also include a tour of the facility and a reception.READ MORE

Preliminary data indicates Ze-gen Inc. is consistently producing synthesis gas with a combined carbon monoxide and hydrogen content exceeding 70 percent. The data was provided by Ze-gen Senior Vice President Scott Fraser during a presentation at the 16th Annual North American Waste-to-Energy Conference in Philadelphia in May.READ MORE

According to a new analysis by Frost & Sullivan, which assessed the European biomass energy markets, the continent may achieve its goal of utilizing 20 percent renewable energy in the next 12 years by using biomass as a significant source.READ MORE

Mark Emalfarb, who was fired from his position as chief executive officer of Dyadic International amid a tax scandal last year, has now been reinstated as chairman and CEO of the company he spent nearly 30 years building.READ MORE

GE Energy announced it will provide control systems for 50 new biomass-fueled power plants in China. The Atlanta-based company will distribute the controls technology to Wuhan Kaidi Electric Power Engineering Co. Ltd., which is building the facilities.READ MORE

Vancouver-based Syntec Biofuels Inc. recently announced it is offering free licensing of its thermochemical conversion technology to interested parties. According to Syntec, the license is valued at $250,000.READ MORE

Hawaiian Electric Co. is seeking developers interested in supplying up to 100 megawatts of renewable energy to Oahu's power grid. The request for proposals issued June 23 asks for technologies including biofuels, biomass and biogas (landfill and sewage-based digester gas).READ MORE

The Tennessee Biofuels Initiative has been fielding phone calls this week as a result of an erroneous news story reporting one of the partners had bowed out of the project. In fact, the university continues to finalize arrangements with its strategic partners, including the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Mascoma Corp.READ MORE